The days are sunny, the nights are clear, and the humidity is low. Typically, from mid-June on, you can fish, cycle, camp, watch migratory birds and also take an educational tour of various farm activities at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) campus in Patancheru, Hyderabad. Despite protection and conservation, the 3,500 acre campus doubles up as a vacation spot.
It is home to a wide range of fauna like migratory birds, jackals, porcupines, hares, mongoose, jungle cats, spotted deer, four-horned antelope, langurs and even a pangolin and many more. With rolling lawns, lakes, muddy yet paved pathways, exploring the place is easy. There are plaques and signs placed along the way that give information about the trees and plants in the area.
Taking the 20 to 30-km long ride in the campus is a bird-lover’s delight. More than 250 species of birds — Lesser Florican, European Roller, White-throated Weaver Bird, Pintails and Brahmani Ducks — live or migrate in this green belt.
“Initially the idea was to provide opportunities for our staff members and partners to rejuvenate their physical and spiritual health. Now this place welcomes all sorts of visitors. This in turn helps to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen the livelihoods of the poor and marginal farmers in the semi-arid tropics,” says William D Dar, director general, ICRISAT
Sitting quietly near the lakes you can hear hundreds of sounds. The call of birds, the rustling of small animals and the whisper of wind through the leaves of the trees can all be heard. The beauty of watching the sunset over ICRISAT is that no two sunsets are the same. Sitting at the edge of the mud bund that stretches into the lake, it’s peaceful to watch the sun slide under the horizon. There is nothing more soothing than sitting by the lake on a warm breezy day and listening to the trickle of water or watching the fish in the lake.
Once in the interior, you can forget any ideas of rambling off on your own. (Don’t even think about visiting the forest area without a local guide, unless you are fully prepped in the niceties of dealing with jackals and wild cats.) You can easily spot a peacock dancing blissfully, a Kingfisher diving for its meal into the lake or even a Treepie watching from the window ledge. With the help of partners like World Wildlife Fund (WWF), ICRISAT ensures that wild animals are protected. Erection of a fence helps in contributing to establishment of a safe sanctuary for wildlife.
The best time to visit the campus is during the Monsoon season when the varied habitat in the campus comes to life. If you appreciate sports then you can go for cycling, swimming, golfing etc. For the rest there are options of taking long walks, trips to lakes, exploring old monuments etc.
By the end of your stay, ICRISAT would have re-energised your senses and you’d be refreshed to the core. So in case you are in Hyderabad then don’t miss this weekend getaway.
(More information about ICRISAT and its programmes can be obtained from www.icrisat.org)